Incubator



' 1,652,120 m. M. HQLBRQQK y L INCUBATOR Filed Aug. 20. M325 `2Shee-S-Sheec 2 Eggs@ m /MZ 'o yas Patented ti, lQlZ'.

DAVZD lill.

HOLBROK, OF ORTLANID, OREGON.

IENC'UBATOR.

Application filed August 20, 1925. Serial No, 551,427.

rllhe invention relates to improvements in incubatore, and its object isto provide new and improved electrical heating means embodyingheatingcoils and uniquesupportingmeans therefor, the latter being of a natureto prevent direct downward rad1- ation of heat onto the eggs.

"With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompany ing drawings. i

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through an incubatorconstructed in accordu ance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on line 2-2 of Figi l, lookingin the direction of the arrows, and this view indicates by the line 1-l,the planes on which Fig. l is cut.

Figure 3 is au enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view as indicatedby line 3#3 of Fig. Q.

Figure a is a vertical transverse sect-ion on line iw-ll of lfig. l.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the heating coils and wiring, togetherwith a thermostatic switch therefor.

ln the drawings above briefly described, the numeral l designates anincubation chamber which may be of any known or preferred construct-ion,the chamber herein disclosed, being provided with a. plurality of eggtrays 2.

Projecting downwardly from the top of the chamber l, l have shown aplurality of binding posts 3 which are preferably provided with prongs4l. driven into said top. 'llhese binding posts may be at any desiredlocations, according to the positions 'to be occupied by the heatingcoils 5, which coils have their ends detachably mounted by said posts.Suitable conducting wires 6 may connect adjacent ends of the coils asmay be necessary, and the main feed wires. 8 are in electricalconnection with two of the posts 3, the upper ends of the latter havingaule iliary posts 9 to which the wires are clamped. included in thecircuit at any desired point, is a thermostatic switch l() of an vadequate construct-ion.y

Horisontally disposed extend longitudinally under the coils 5 and areprovided with channels l2 in which said coils are received, said barsbeing supported insulating` bars ll by screws i3, by staples la, or inApractically any other desired manner. The supporting means for the barsare preferably driven into the top of the chamber l in a mannerpermitting their removal whenever it is necessary to gain access to anyof the coils 5, for instance, for replacing or repairing. rlhese barsnot only prevent the intermediate portions of the coils from sagging,but they prevent direct downward radiation of heat onto the eggs fromsaid coils, producing a more eliicient distribution of the heat in thechamber. ritt this point, it may be stated that by preference, the coils5 near the walls of the chamber l, contain more wire than those at thecentral portions, thus providing for more heat around the walls, whereneeded.

Extending through the back wall of the chamber l, above the'egg trays 2,l have shown a number of fresh air inlet tubes l5, said tubes beingequal in number to the trays :2 and having their inner ends disposedsubstantially over the centers of these trays. assing through the top ofthe chamber l, are a number of air outlets 16 which are also preferablydisposed one over each tray 2, the combined air conducting capacities ofthe outlets lil being about the same as the combined capacities of thetubes l5. Slides or the like 17 are provided for closing the outlets 16for a purpose to appear. The bottom of the chamber l is formed withgroups of auxiliary air inlet perforations 18, one group being disposedunder each of the trays 2. 'Ehe combined conducting capacities of all ofthe perforations 18 are considerably less than the combined con ductingcapacities of the main air inlet tubes l5. Hence, as long the slides 17are open, verylittle air will enter through the perforations 18, but anabundance of fresh air will enter through the tubes l5 and this air willescape through the outlets 16, it becomes heated. rlhis rapidcirculation of air is used almost entirely While the areA in theincubator. During the first few days of the hatch however7 the topslides should be closed. Then, fresh air in relatively small quantitiesenters through th'eperforations 1S, slowly circulates in the chamber l,and escapes through the tubes l5, providing the desirable ventilationduring the hatching period. ltmay be further explained that theperforations i8 serve to supply fresh air lill CJI

to the nursery 19, insuring that the chicks shall obtain a healthy startin lite.

For lsupplying the necessary humidity to the chamber l, I have provideda Water tank 2O Which is preferably 'elongated horizontally, said tankhaving longitudinal slots 2l in its sides, through Which moisture canescape into said chamber'. This tank is equipped with an upstanding neck22 which passes through and is secured to the top l, the upper end ofsaid neck being equipped with ,a slide or the like 23. When this slideis closed, moisture escapes from the water tank through the slots 2linto the chamber l. When the slide is open however7 moisture `escapesthrough the neck 22 and is not supplied noticeable `(piantity to thechamber.

y properly regulating the slide or the like, the "desired lnirnidityWithin the chamber ,may be readily obtained- The Ventilating :andhumidii'ying herein disclosed, constitute no parts invention ,claimed inthis application.

I claim:`

In a heating means for au incubation chamber, one pair of heating coilsdisposed in axial alinement with each other under the top ofthe chamber,a second pair of axially alined coils `similflrly disposed andpositioned in parallel relation with the coils of the lirst named pair,binding posts secured to the chamber top `and detachably anchoring theinner and outer ends of the coils of the first means ot' the and secondmentioned pairs, third and fourth pairs ot coils extending transverselybetween the outermost of the aforesaid binding posts and having theirouter ends detachably held thereby, additional binding posts secured tothe chamber top and detachably holding the inner ends of the coils otsaid third and fourth pairs, a ii'lth pair of axially alined coilsdisposed between and parallel with the iirst and second named pairs,binding posts to which the Lends of the coils oit said fifth pair aredetachably connected, an eleventh coil between the `irst and secondnamed pai ot' Acoils end parallel therewith, binding posts to which theends of said eleventh coil are dctachably connected, transverseconnectors between these binding posts vand those at ,the outer ends ofsaid fifth pair of coils, trans verse connectors between the bindingposts at the inner ends of said lfifth pair iof coils and the bindingposts et the inner ends of the first named pair oi' coils, and currentfeed wires connected to the binding posts at the inner ends ot' thesecond pair of coils, the coils oi'' said liifth pair containing lessWire than fthe coils ortl the lirst or second .named pairs, saideleventh coil also containing less Wire than either `the jliist orsecond named pairs ot' coils.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature,

DAVID M. HOLBROOK.

